Spice and small item storage system

ABSTRACT

This spice and small item storage system utilizes generally unused space directly underneath shelving. In its preferred embodiment of elastic slings, the system will usually retain the containers even if shook. The system is economical to purchase, simple to install, and easy to take apart. Its small size makes it easy to install incrementally as more sections are needed

SUMMARY

The present spice and small item storage system eliminates the problemsof previous designs in cluttering counters and wall spaces. The presentdesign uses the generally unused surface under shelves as the support.The present design is economical to purchase, easy to install, and quickto disassemble when re-locating the system.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to spice and small item storage, specificallyspices and herbs but it is also useful in storing small items in office,bath, craft, electronic, and workshop rooms.

2. Description of Prior Art

Spice storage now in use relies mainly on racks. Whether countertop,wall mounted, or hung on the inside of cabinet doors, current small itemstorage creates a cluttered look and/or takes up valuable space whichcould be used by other items. Furthermore, this system solves thepressing problem of how to use the space in the undersides of shelves.

Most patents issued are design patents and merely address the look ofracks. Some utility spice container designs are Canini (U.S. Pat. No.5,513,776) which breaks up lumps in the contents. Daniello (U.S. Pat.No. 5,601,213) and Robbins (U.S. Pat. No. 5,465,871) designedpre-measuring caps for spice jars. Among the utility designs forpresenting multiple spices are Plough (U.S. Pat. No. 5,083,680) whocreated a double oval to present two spices and Hofmann (U.S. Pat. No.4,802,608) whose design also stores multiple ingredients. Other spicedesigns open the form from a flat rack to other shapes. Morse (U.S. Pat.No. 4,775,055) created a carrousel. Barbieri (U.S. Pat. No. 4,125,954designed a spice calendar while Finnegan (U.S. Pat. No. 4,832,208) putspice jars on a horizontal incline. Friedrich et al. (U.S. Pat. No.5,368,203) designed s system requiring the spice containers to bemagnetically held. All these designs compete for precious countertopand/or interior cabinet shelf space. Johnson et al. (U.S. Pat. No.5,871,107) patented a hinged sheet metal keeper to be affixed bymagnetic tape to the underside of kitchen cabinets. Service (U.S. Pat.No. 4,714,305) designed a pullout spice drawer to fit behind or besidemajor appliances. Although these do not use countertop space thesedesigns are larger, more costly, more difficult to install and moredifficult to remove than the present design.

Other current spice storage available in markets include racks includedin cabinet doors taking space from the room rather than the cabinetinterior and racks added to the inside of cabinet doors which requiresspace in the interior of the cabinet when the door is closed. The formersolution is built in, costly, and cannot be easily moved if the ownerwishes to change; the latter solution has the same problems plus ittakes space from the interior that could be used for other items.

Soft hammock and sling designs for shipping boxes may have moreconnection to the present invention. Janus et al. (U.S. Pat. No.5,211,290) designed a suspension package as a lidded box with innerslings to cradle the contents during transportation. Lofgren's (U.S.Pat. No. 5,579,917) design included a frame and a hammock. Luray, (U.S.Pat. No. 4,606,459) made a shipping box for fragile articles consistingof a shock absorbing cradle supported only at the ends. All thesedesigns are free standing and include rigid armatures to support thehammocks.

OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES

Therefore, beside the advantages and objects of the spice and small itemstorage system described in my above patent, several objects andadvantages of my present invention are:

-   -   (a) to provide quick, though hidden, access to spices and small        items which frequently get lost in small containers.    -   (b) to provide safe storage for small items in danger of being        broken by being shaken in transit or during an earthquake.    -   (c) to utilize the usually wasted space directly underneath        shelving.    -   (d) to provide users with a storage system easy to knockdown and        take to another location.    -   (e) to provide herbs and spices with a dark, dry storage to        prolong freshness.

DRAWING FIGURES

FIG. 1 shows the system from above.

FIG. 2 shows the system from the front.

FIG. 3 shows the system from the side.

REFERENCE NUMERALS TO DRAWINGS

-   10 shelf-   12 elastic hammocks over 16 spice bottle in elastic hammock duck    base.-   14 grommet and screw attachment-   16 spice bottle in elastic hammock duck base.

The wavy lines are sewing the elastic to the duck base.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 shows the entire spice and small item storage system from thetop. FIG. 2 shows the system from the front, or users, view. FIG. 3 isthe end view. Reference number 10 shows the shelf, 12 the backingfabric, 14 the grommet holes, and 16 the elastic slings. In practice,the system is screwed onto the bottom surface of solid cabinet shelvesthrough the grommet holes. Jars are inserted into the slings for securestorage. Said slings are sewn to the backing fabric to insure a safefoundation. The system can also be secured to wire shelves by being tiedthrough the grommet holes on each end and in the middle. This systemuses previously wasted space underneath shelving.

The preferred material is elastic and duck fabrics but could be anymaterial capable of holding the containers securely. REFERENCES4,125,954 21 Nov. 1978 Barbieri, Joseph J. 4,606,459 19 Aug. 1986 Luray,Howard 4,714,305 22 Dec. 1987 Service, Robert S. 4,775,055  4 Oct. 1988Morse, Guy 4,802,608  7 Feb. 1989 Hofmann, Raimund 4,832,208 23 May 1989Finnegan, Richard J. 5,083,680 28 Jan. 1992 Plough, Harold 5,211,290 18May 1993 Janus, James J. et al. 5,368,203 29 Nov. 1994 Friedrich, Ranier5,513,776  7 May 1996 Canini, Ferruccio 5,579,917  3 Dec. 1996 Lofgren,Lewis C. et al. 6,601,213 11 Feb. 1997 Daniello, Jennifer J. 5,817,10716 Feb. 1999 Johnson, Merlyn B. et al.

1. A spice and small item storage system comprising: a backing material,a series of slings, and a means for attaching said system to a receivingsurface.
 2. A method for storing spices and other small items comprisingthe steps of installing the system on an appropriate surface, andinserting appropriately sized containers into the slings.
 3. Aneconomical and space saving spice and small item storage systemcomprising: a backing material, a series of slings, and an attachmentsystem enabling said sling system to be installed on a supportingsurface.
 4. The spice and small item storage system of claim 1 whereinthe size of the slings is large enough to accept larger containers. 5.The spice and small item storage system of claim 1 wherein theattachment is other than screws and grommets.